Boxed Zipper Pouch Tutorial

By adminJune 20, 2015

Back in April we created Boxed Zipper Pouches at the Make It Sew Meetup I host at TechShop. I have been a very bad sewing fool and neglected to put together the written instructions. Thankfully one of the participants from the meetup reached out asking for them. Thank you for your reminded, Alecia, and fellow Wacky Wednesday Wizard and Sewing Fool!

Fabric & Notions Needed

Once your fabrics are cut it is time to sew in the zipper. This is a super easy process so don’t fret over this. Start by layering your pieces as follows:

Batting

Outside Fabric (Right Side Up)

Zipper (Wrong Side Up) The zipper pull should be facing down.

Inside Fabric (Wrong Side Up)

Using a zipper foot on your machine, if you have one, stitch about 1/8′ from the zipper teeth. Start and stop stitching 1/2″ in from the outside edges of the fabric.

Fold the layers so that the right sides of the fabric and lining are facing out. Repeat on the other side. (Also starting and stopping 1/2″ from outside edges)

Fold the layers out so that the zipper is in the center and outside fabrics are right side up on each side of the zipper as shown in the photo below. Now top stitch again starting and stopping 1/2″ from the outside edges.

Your project should look something like this now. Note the stitching ends 1/2 from each edge and the metal parts of the zipper should not be in line with the next place we will stitch. I’ve learned from experience that needles don’t like stitching through the metal zipper stops 😉

Next we’ll stitch the two lining pieces together with right sides together along the bottom edge. You’ll leave a 2-3″ opening so that you can pull through later. No need to start 1/2″ in on this step.

Now you’ll repeat the last step for the outside and batting pieces. This time you won’t leave an opening.

Make sure you unzip the zipper before the next step… otherwise you’ll be ripping stitches.

Fold back the lining as far as you can and pin. Then stitch the batting and outside fabric to close the ends. You will stitch over the zipper as well. This will be approximately a 1/2″ seam. Repeat for both ends. You can now trim the zippers.

Next you’ll repeat the same step for the lining, but you won’t stitch through the zipper this time as it’s already attached to the outside fabric.

Time to box the corners! We will start by marking a 1-1/2″ square on each corner. Do not include the seam allowance in the square. Once you’ve marked your square cut it off.

Time to make the handle. Fold lengthwise as shown in the photo below.

Stitch 1/8″ from each side as well as down the middle.

Time to stitch the boxed corners that make it a boxed bag:

Open the seam to create a point using the lines from the squares to line it up straight

Pin and stitch across the line.

Trim to 1/4″ seam.

Repeat for both corners on the lining

It should now look like this

Repeat on only one end of the outside. On the other end we need to add the handle. Slide the handle through the two holes created by cutting out the square. Stitch as you did the other 3 corners making sure to catch the handle.

Finally you will pull everything through the hole you left in the bottom of the lining and the zipper. Hand stitch the lining closed or machine stitch it.